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76th out of 293 books
—
981 voters
Evans Above (Constable Evans #1)
by
Rhys Bowen (Goodreads Author)
Evan Evans, a young police constable, has traded city life for that of Llanfair - an idyllic Welsh village. Nestling in the Snowdonia mountain range, Llanfair looks to Evans like a town forgotten by time, but he quickly learns that even the bucolic countryside has its share of eccentric - and deadly - characters. Evans's new neighbours include two competitive ministers vyi...more
Paperback, 214 pages
Published
December 1st 1998
by Berkley
(first published January 1st 1997)
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May 12, 2013
Susan
rated it
3 of 5 stars
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constable-evans-mystery-series
Evans Above by Rhys Bowen is the first book of her Constable Evans mystery series set in Wales. Evan Evans is a constable in the North Wales police force. He trained as a detective in Swansea, but chose to leave the violent crime of the city for the peace of the mountains. He is the village constable of Llanfair, a village high in the Snowdonian mountain range, and he is a member of the mountain rescue crew.
The tiny village has several residents named Evans: Evans-the-Meat, Evans-the-Milk, Evans...more
The tiny village has several residents named Evans: Evans-the-Meat, Evans-the-Milk, Evans...more
The first in a series of mysteries focused on the constable of a small welsh village. I felt that is rambled a bit, was quite repetitive and the systery solution while sufficiently convoluted was also pretty sketchy. Its a quick light read in the cozy mystery genre if that's what you're in the mood for.
The book reminded me strongly of M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth series (complete with a hero constable with a slightly ridiculous name - Evan Evans) but set in Wales instead of the Scottish Highland...more
The book reminded me strongly of M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth series (complete with a hero constable with a slightly ridiculous name - Evan Evans) but set in Wales instead of the Scottish Highland...more
While the Her Royal Spyness have a sort of sweeping tongue-in-cheek and yes, ridiculous but still cutely charming in its own right story lines (who can say no to Darcy O'Mara?) I'd say the Constable Evans series (though this is the first one I've read) is a little bit more grounded rather than theatrical.
Taking place in modern day Wales (oh Welsh words, I don't even know where to start with you lot) we get a look at the idyllic village life. There's mt. Snowdon, there's a town that knows everyt...more
Taking place in modern day Wales (oh Welsh words, I don't even know where to start with you lot) we get a look at the idyllic village life. There's mt. Snowdon, there's a town that knows everyt...more
I've heard Evans Above referred to as a Welsh version of Hamish Macbeth. There are a few similarities - they're both young constables at small villages (Evans at the Welsh village of Llanfair and Hamish at Lochdubh), but that's pretty much where it ends. Both are great reads, but where Hamish is lazy and sometimes hilariously shameless, Evans is good-natured and straightforward. Rhys Bowen does a great job of writing a nice mix of interesting village characters.
I really like Evans; he's describe...more
I really like Evans; he's describe...more
The first in the mystery series, Constable Evans, Evans Above feels like a cross between the village life of Agatha Christie with the camaraderie between Inspector Jury and Divisional Commander Brian Macalvie in Martha Grimes' Richard Jury series. Evans has left big-city crime behind for the peace and tranquility of village life in Wales and has no desire to become entangled with any woman. Ahh, to dream for so little...and not get it. Evans soon becomes entangled. With a series of unexplained m...more
A library customer introduced me to this author and series. For some reason, I thought it was a 'Christian' mystery, but apart from two competing churches and their pastors' wives, there's nothing 'Christian' about it. That being said, it's not at the graphic and gory end of the spectrum, and there's little offensive language.
Evan Evans is a constable in the sleepy Welsh community of Llanfair. When two hikers die on Mount Snowdon and Evans' superior dismisses the deaths as a curious coincidence,...more
Evan Evans is a constable in the sleepy Welsh community of Llanfair. When two hikers die on Mount Snowdon and Evans' superior dismisses the deaths as a curious coincidence,...more
Quick read of a multiple murder mystery set in Wales. Won't be seeing me in Wales soon as I love warmth and sunshine. A few typos that made me grateful for the last few books not having any that I noticed. Makes me think of life here in the 50s as the story is set in a small town of Wales. I was annoyed that Pigs Trail was mentioned at least three times and that it was the steeper/faster trail. Once is enough with me as I don't have to be hit over the head. I wanted to upchuck at the description...more
Evans Above is what I would call an intelligent cozy. At the heart of this book is a decent mystery story, with multiple suspects, red herrings, and a pretty good solution. It's cute (which, to be honest, is not one of the criteria I look for in a mystery) but I liked it.
Evan Evans, often known as Evans-the-Law so as to distinguish him from Evans-the-Post or Evans-the-Meat (it's Wales...Evans is a popular name), is the policeman in the small village of Llanfair, in the Snowdonia area (known in...more
Evan Evans, often known as Evans-the-Law so as to distinguish him from Evans-the-Post or Evans-the-Meat (it's Wales...Evans is a popular name), is the policeman in the small village of Llanfair, in the Snowdonia area (known in...more
Picked this one up as a bookswap, as I'm always on the lookout for first books of new series so I can try stuff out...
There's a comment on the cover of Evans Above that likens the series to the Hamish Macbeth novels of MC Beaton and that should have told me everything I needed to know about this one. Like the aforementioned novels, Evans Above is about a big-city police officer coming to a small village, this time in the heart of Snowdonia.
The eponymous Evans becomes involved in a mystery when t...more
There's a comment on the cover of Evans Above that likens the series to the Hamish Macbeth novels of MC Beaton and that should have told me everything I needed to know about this one. Like the aforementioned novels, Evans Above is about a big-city police officer coming to a small village, this time in the heart of Snowdonia.
The eponymous Evans becomes involved in a mystery when t...more
I read this as I really enjoyed Bowen's other series. The Constable Evans series is a good start if a bit slower going in the beginning than the Royal series.
Constable Evans has returned to Wales to get away from the violence of the big city only to find murder awaiting him--as well as several luscious ladies looking for a good catch. Evans must solve a series of seemingly unrelated deaths that take place on a mountain while most of the forces resources are devoted to finding the killer of a you...more
Constable Evans has returned to Wales to get away from the violence of the big city only to find murder awaiting him--as well as several luscious ladies looking for a good catch. Evans must solve a series of seemingly unrelated deaths that take place on a mountain while most of the forces resources are devoted to finding the killer of a you...more
I simply adored this book. I read the cover comment that "...a kind of Welsh version of M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth" by Kirkus Reviews but in my opinion this book was so much sharper and better written. This is amazing to me as I love M.C. Beaton's books.
Set in Wales in a fictional town that you quickly feel is real, a Constable Evan Evans lives and tries to heal scars as he embraces the town. The Constable solves the murder mysteries but this is what I loved about the book, he is actually appr...more
Set in Wales in a fictional town that you quickly feel is real, a Constable Evan Evans lives and tries to heal scars as he embraces the town. The Constable solves the murder mysteries but this is what I loved about the book, he is actually appr...more
This was pretty standard stuff, and I just couldn't get interested in it. It wasn't bad, but maybe I have read too many other books like this one.
This was sweet and charming and gentle. I have a friend who would have called this a cozy book. Which took me by surprise because I had an ending figured out that was edgy and dark. So the book really didn't go where I thought it was going. I think my ending made more sense. I also think there are some hanging bits that were never resolved; although, maybe I was reading too quickly to notice the resolutions.
RB's Molly Murphy mysteries are a little grittier so I think that's what I was expecting....more
RB's Molly Murphy mysteries are a little grittier so I think that's what I was expecting....more
This is the first of the series, and the first of Rhys Bowen's three series. I discovered her third series first, then the second, and now while I'm trying to collect all the books in the second, I decided to try the first. Did not know what to expect with a male protagonist, a village constable in Wales. I must say, from my reading of the first book, that this series is just as delightful (not a term usually associated with male cops) as the other two. In this book readers are right there in Wa...more
A very entertaining depiction of life in a small North Welsh village, with well-drawn characters & a good mystery thrown in. Evan Evans is enjoying his new job as Constable for the small village of Llanfair, even if it means sometimes dealing with the more eccentric local characters (a barmaid who's determined to throw herself at him; a minister's wife who's convinced the other minister's wife is trying to ruin her prize plants) - it's certainly more quiet & relaxed than being a city pol...more
Settling nicely into this - I've bathed away the shop s**t and am now sitting infront of the log fire in my rocking chair - winceyette (is that a small wincey?) pyjamas, fluffy gown, attitudinal mutt at my side and look, over there on the settee, dear M in comfort mode. Aaaaah.
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Opening paragraph : The sound of singing rose up from the little village of Llanfair, nestled high on the pass between the peaks of Glyder Fawr and Yr Wyddfa. On the green slopes above, sheep looked up, momentarily star...more
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Opening paragraph : The sound of singing rose up from the little village of Llanfair, nestled high on the pass between the peaks of Glyder Fawr and Yr Wyddfa. On the green slopes above, sheep looked up, momentarily star...more
This is the first in Bowen's series featuring Evan Evans, constable of Llanfair, Wales. In this novel we meet the residents of Llanfair, many of whom are named Evans and distinguished by such names as Evans-the-Meat, Evans-the-Milk, Evans-the-Post, and Evans-the-Law. We are introduced to two of the local women who are interested in Evans-the-Law and his mothering landlady who would like to set him up with her granddaughter. The mystery, the deaths of two hikers on the mountain, is intriguing and...more
2.5 Stars
Ahh, who doesn't like visiting new places in a cozy mystery book? I love to, especially when they take me to cute little villages and hamlets like Llanfair. This was my first time reading a book by this author and though I've seen some other books written by her I wasn't too familiar with her work.
Lucky me this one was chosen as one of the 4 monthly group reads in one of my GoodReads groups. Now while I'm glad that I gave a new author a try (I've been trying to read a lot of new to me...more
Ahh, who doesn't like visiting new places in a cozy mystery book? I love to, especially when they take me to cute little villages and hamlets like Llanfair. This was my first time reading a book by this author and though I've seen some other books written by her I wasn't too familiar with her work.
Lucky me this one was chosen as one of the 4 monthly group reads in one of my GoodReads groups. Now while I'm glad that I gave a new author a try (I've been trying to read a lot of new to me...more
The first in the Constable Evans series, I thought I'd give it a try. I like Bowen's Royal Spyness series. This book was OK, the murders unusual as they involved falls from a steep mountain in Wales. The detective, Evan Evans is a likeable guy. And unlike the detectives assigned to the case, he is convinced that they are indeed murders instead of the accidents they appeared to be. So the plot was refreshingly different. Still, i'll probably not read further on in the series.
This is a pretty big departure from the "Her Royal Spyness" series. While the former is really frothy and light, the Evans mysteries seem to be shaping up to be a bit more substantial. One thing that I really liked is that Evans actually does some purposeful investigating while Georgie, from the aforementioned series, kind of just...falls (sometimes literally) into some useful information that eventually helps her with her "cases".
I've read most of these, b/c my library has them. And I like the information about Welsh culture b/c I had a friend who was Welsh. I, also, like that I wasn't always able to solve the mystery/murder. But the prejudices of the different pastors (and church goers) in the small village don't betray Christians in a good way. And it annoyed me b/c it didn't seem relevant to the story, but was thrown in to poke fun of Christian beliefs.
Enjoyable quick read. Figured out the killer probably before halfway through but it was the town, the people and and the goat with the shoe on the cover that made it enjoyable. I found I really didn't mind having guessed the killer so early. Yes I only gave it 3 stars but thats because simlpy I liked it, it wasn't amazing but it was perfect for what it was, a short rainy day mystery. I will definitly be checking out the rest of the series.
Perfect book for your hammock on a lazy summer afternoon. This "cozy" mystery introduces a Welsh detective who scurries up the misty cliffs in search of evil-doers. But, he actually seems to spend even more time fobbing off the advances of the lusty local lassies. This is not a book you'll want to leave on your coffee table to impress your friends with your erudition, but then again, at least we are reading something!
I'm fond of detective mysteries and love a chance to "spend time" in the Welsh Mountains but despite this book having both of those elements plus what should have been engaging characters it never convinced me I was involved with story, scenery, or people. It was written as if the author was outside, looking in through a thick glass window and I was thoroughly insulated from events.
I would compare this to the Hamish MacBeth (Scottish highland constable) series by M. C. Beaton. It has a good mystery to be solved by the local constable who is told to stay out of investigations by the higher-ups. There are quirky hometown characters along with descriptions of life in a Welsh community. I am looking forward to reading others in the series.
Having read and loved the Royal Spyness mysteries by this author, I decided to try another of her series. This one is about a policeman in Wales in the present day. It reminded me quite a bit of the Hamish MacBeth series by M.C. Beaton, which I also love. It is a cozy kind of mystery, and I will definitely be reading more in the series!
This mystery series, about a Welsh constable in a small town in Wales, has a fair amount of charm. I liked the hero, Evan Evans, and many of the characters of the small town. While the mystery itself wasn't, say, on the level of Agatha Christie, the overall read was enjoyable and I'll probably read more of the series.
I admit I'm a sucker for mysteries featuring 1) nuns of any era and 2) Scottish/ Irish small-village constables (they're not generally found in the same book, you understand). They almost never disappoint. Anyway, this one features the latter, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even more than the Hamish Macbeth stories.
This is the first Constable Evan Evans mystery. I had read #7 (or something) a while ago and decided I wanted to start at the beginning. I really liked this starter. Now I have to get my hands on #2! I especially enjoy the Welsh manner of speaking, what? It's so different from how I speak, isn't it? It makes me start thinking that way, doesn't it?!
I really enjoyed this, thought the characters well rounded, the mystery fascinating, and it was full of action. I have been meaning to read this series for years, but did not take the time to find the first one. (I like to start at the beginning. Great fun, now I get to read the rest.
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"I'm a mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.
I also write the bestselling Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series this year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my aw...more
More about Rhys Bowen...
I also write the bestselling Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series this year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my aw...more
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Nov 03, 2009 03:39pm